WEST BARNSTABLE – A first-of-its-kind agreement has been made between Cape Cod Community College and Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester.
The colleges have created a pathway for Quinsigamond students to enter Cape Cod Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology Program at Plymouth Regional Airport.
Michael Gross, a CCCC spokesman, says both schools are excited to begin the unique agreement.
“This is the very first time two community colleges have created a direct pathway from one college to the other’s degree,” Gross said.
CCCC President John Cox and QCC President Gail Carberry signed the articulation agreement on June 23.
The agreement allows students to take required general education courses in Worcester before transferring into the Aviation Maintenance Technology program. Students who transfer to the program will receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Aviation Maintenance and FAA Certification in airframe and powerplant.
“We think it is important because this ultimately will be a destination program,” Gross said. “It’s the only one like it on the Eastern seaboard. There are only about a half-dozen like it that have this intensive training program in the country.”
To help students cut back on having to travel daily from Worcester, CCCC officials are looking at the potential for housing to room students for a few nights per week.
Gross believes more partnerships like this one will be made with other schools in Southeastern Massachusetts.
“Down here on the South Shore, we have a partnership with both the four-year schools and the community colleges and the public called CONNECT, in which UMass Dartmouth, Bridgewater, us, Bristol and Massasoit all collaborate,” Gross said.
Currently CCCC has two full groups of students participating in the 14 month program.
“One whole group has already completed their airframe certifications and they are going into powerplant right now,” Gross said. “There is a group coming behind them going right into airframe and we’ll begin in September this fall with another group that will come in right behind them.”
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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